Torture and Terrorism Resources

Executive Committee Call for an APA Moratorium Resolution

The Executive Committee of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division 48 of the APA (American Psychological Association) calls on the APA to adopt a Moratorium Resolution on Psychologist's Involvement in Interrogations at US Detention Centers for Foreign Detainees and Individuals Identified as "Enemy Combatants" under the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Click here for more information! .

2007 APA Reaffirmation of the American Psychological Association Position Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Its Application to Individuals Defined in the United States Code as "Enemy Combatants"

2006 APA Resolution Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

The American Psychological Association 2006 Resolution Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Resolution Justification Statement

Frequently Asked Questions about the Resolution

Executive Committee Responds to Queries regarding the Statement Concerning the Use of Torture with Prisoners

The Executive Committee of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division 48 (APA) was recently asked by Dr. Gerald Koocher to provide clarification concerning the use of the term "coercive interrogations." Click here to read the Executive Committee's response concerning the issue of "coercive interrogation."

The Executive Committee was also contacted by Dr. Ron Levant concerning the PENS report. Click here for the Executive Committee's statement.

Executive Committee Statement Concerning the Use of Torture with Prisoners

The Executive Committee (EC) of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division 48 of the APA (American Psychological Association) reaffirms its position denouncing the use of torture in the interrogation of prisoners. Click here for more information! .

The Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (APA) concurs with the policy of the APA in condemning the use of torture wherever it occurs. This web page includes the text of the APA policy statement, an annotated bibliography of relevant resources, and a listing of Internet resources. Click here for more information.

Preamble to Terrorism Statement

It is the intention of the Division 48 Subcommittee on Terrorism that this statement should supplement the APA Resolution on Terrorism (adopted 12/08/01) and in so doing extend the ongoing dialogue. Preamble to Terrorism Statement

Division 48 Revised Terrorism Statement

Terrorist acts do not occur in a vacuum, but in a context so multidisciplinary as to summon the cooperative efforts of expertise in a large variety of academic disciplines including psychology, political science, economics, international and cultural affairs, military studies, technology, and theology. We first list psychology, the study of human behaviour, as the overarching discipline that can expand its scope while learning from other disciplines. There is much that psychology in general and peace psychology in particular can contribute to the current debate on terrorism. Three key issues merit our attention: defining terrorism, understanding what motivates terrorist acts, and deciding how psychology can best offer advice on how to respond to these acts. Read Interpreting and Responding to Terrorism

APA Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security

APA President Ron Levant has put together a Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security. Members of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology Division have been appointed to the Task Force. A complete list of Task Force members and their biographical information can be found here and the Final Task Report can be downloaded here. Additionally, President Levant has issued a Call for Questions and Comments in relation to the report. More information can be found here.